Many Long Island residents thought Will Barrow was crazy for accepting a lacrosse scholarship to Virginia last year.
By taking coach Dom Starsia up on his offer, the freshman midfielder turned down full rides to play football at high-profile schools like Maryland and Wisconsin.
"When I chose to play at Virginia, the paper in my hometown ran an article that basically said I was crazy for choosing lacrosse," Barrow said. "A lot of my friends wanted me to play football."
For Barrow, however, the decision was the right one.
"Because I just started playing in 9th grade, lacrosse is still pretty new to me," he said. "I'm still kind of playing a new sport, so I'm not ready to give it up yet."
The freshman also mentioned that the chance to play for the legendary Starsia, combined with a strong academic program, made his decision easier.
"Coach Starsia was probably the nicest coach I met when I went on my recruiting trips," Barrow said. "Academics were another big thing that my parents also pushed for."
Leading up to his college choice, Barrow was a two-sport New York standout for most of his high school career. An honorable mention All-American in lacrosse his senior season after scoring 40 goals, Barrow was also the MVP of the Empire State football all-star game the previous fall.
"Football and lacrosse both have the same kind of athleticism, running up and down the field," Barrow said. "You get the same kind of guys playing both sports."
After making the transition to Division I lacrosse, Barrow has found some key differences in the game compared to his high school days on Long Island.
"You just have to think faster in college lacrosse," he said. "The intensity in practice here is pretty much like a high school game. You have to play 110 percent every day."
Despite having to adjust to a faster game, Barrow's raw talent has not gone unnoticed by his more experienced teammates.
"Will is going to be a really good player," senior attackman John Christmas said. "Right now he's still getting used to things and not talking it up as much as he could be, but he's going to be good."
In Virginia's first game of the season, a 16-7 domination of Drexel, Barrow saw some playing time and was able to grab four ground balls.
"One of my best friends from home is on [Drexel's] team, so it was kind of like a reunion," Barrow said.
Although Barrow has been seeing action for one of the premier lacrosse programs in the country, he also is facing some more familiar problems as a first year getting used to a college workload.
"Sometimes it's hard because you get back from practice and just want to lie down and go to sleep, but you have a paper to get done," he said. "It's hard, but you get it done."
With high expectations and a little necessary adjustment, the Cavaliers are hoping Will Barrow will be able to lead the team in years to come. Meanwhile, he will try to show those Long Island neighbors that Virginia is where he belongs.
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